Body-brace



J. R. HOLLIDAY. BODY BRACE.

APPHCATION FILED APR.28, I920- 1,347,037.

I I M Patented July 20, 1920.

UNITED. STA ES PATENT. OFFICE- JEREMIAH=B. HOLLIDAY, OF-WINNSLBORO, SOUTHCAROLINA.

BODY-BRAGE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

it known thatLJnirnrrm-H Bi Ho'LnI-= residing in the county ofF airfield have invented DAY, a citizen of the United Sta'tes, at lVinnsboro, and State of South Carolina, certain l new and usefu'l Improvements in Body-Braces,

specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings-- This invention relates to body braces, and particularly to a body brace for agricultural purposes such as picking.

Persons working around bushes in a field are required to assume a stooped position almost constantly in order to pick or treat the bushes, which causes great physical strain to the worker. This reduces his working power, and decreases production.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a body brace capable of being easily strapped to the person of the worker, and which supports the body in a stooped position so that the back of the worker is relieved of part of the strain.

Another object is to provide a body brace of this character which engages the ground each time the worker bends the body forward.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a body brace of this character which does not interfere with the work being performed, increases production, and saves time.

With these and other objects in'view, the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a body brace constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan and sectional view showing the pivotal connection of the legs and the brace;

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a breast plate made of any desired material and constructed relatively broad so that it will lie comfortably on the body of the user. The plate is also constructed to conform to the body and has its ends terminating eneath the arm pits of the user. Secured to each end of the plate 5 are straps 6 and 7, the strap 7 being provided with a buckle 8 adapted to receive the end of the strap 6 to firmly secure the breast p e 9 h P Specification-of Letters Patent.

of which the followingis-a' their -'opposite ends son. Projecting from the plate 5 adjacent Patent-ed J lily-20, 1920'.

Applicationfiled A rnes. 1920. Serial No. 377,339.

each end thereof is a pair of lugs 9 provided with registering openings 10.

A pair of supporting legs 11 are provided, each leg being constructed of substantial material capable of supportingthe weight of the body. The end 12 of each leg is pivotedbetween the lugs 9 and are provided at with knobs 13 which prevents the legs from sinking into the ground when supporting the weight of the person. These legs are intended to swing outwardly and engage the ground when the userstoops so as to support the body. To prevent the legs from swinging beyond their intended position and to support them properly, a brace 14. is provided. The ends of the brace are pivoted between lugs 15 which project from the breast plate between the lugs 9. Each side portion of the brace 14 is secured to the adjacent leg. The brace H also serves to prevent the weight of the body or movement of the legs from damaging or injuring the pivotal connection of the ends of the legs.

To prevent the breast plate and legs from moving downwardly and also to properly support the legs when the user is walking, a pair of breast straps 16 are provided, one of said straps being provided with a buckle adapted to receive the other end of the strap to connect the same in back of the neck of the user.

In use, the breast straps 16 are engaged with the neck of the user and connected to hold the breast plate in desired position according to the height of the user. The straps 6 and 7 are then connected around the body to snugly fit the breast plate there to. When the user stoops or extends the trunk of the body forward, the legs 11 come in contact with the ground and support the trunk of the user at the arm pits. The back is thereby relieved of the strain of supporting the trunk of the person. It also permits the user to remain in a stooped position indefinitely without fatigue. lVhen the trunk of the body is erect, the legs automatically adjust themselves. and in view of the fact that they are pivoted adjacent the arm pits or to one side of the breast plate, they do not interfere with the user when walking.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel body brace which, when once applied, does not require the attention of the user. It does not body is in the straps person, and the legs ing any Weight.

I claim a l. A body brace comprising a plate, se curing means carried by the end portions of said plate for securing the plate upon the person, legs pivoted at one of their ends to the portion of said plate disposed beneath the arm pits of the person, the upper: portion of said legs being disposed in a plane parallel'to the plane of the plate, the lower por- .tion of said legs gradually extending outwardly for engagement With the ground, a

the body,

device can be snugly fitted regardless of the size of the are capable of supportlegs. 1

' signature.

neck strap secured to the plate between the legs, and a U shaped brace pivoted at its other,

to the plate adjacent the pivoted ends of the In testimony whereof I hereunto aflii; my

JEREMIAH R, HOLLIDA'Y. 

